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Savannah attorney ordered to receive public reprimand in fee dispute

The state Supreme Court on Monday ordered Savannah attorney John V. Lloyd to receive a public reprimand with conditions and to submit to binding fee arbitration in a fee dispute with a client.

The action, which accepted Lloyd’s amended petition for voluntary discipline, cited “aggravating and mitigating factors set out in our earlier opinion.”

The high court earlier rejected Lloyd’s initial offer and explanation.

Lloyd admitted he was paid $4,500 to represent a criminal defendant in an appeal, but by the time he entered his appearance the appeal had been dismissed, the court found.

Lloyd contended he had done some work but admitted he did not earn the full $4,500, the court said. He refunded only $375 telling the client “without any explanation” he could not refund any more, the opinion said.

The court rejected Lloyd’s petition, finding it “woefully inadequate” in explaining the work performed or the reason for refunding only $375.

In his amended petition, Lloyd contended he fully honored his agreement with the client and could not find any legal merit for a successful action.

Lloyd said the client demanded a full refund and he responded by offering to refund $375 “as a gesture of goodwill and he was disappointed that he could not find any substantive help for his client’s situation,” the court found.

Lloyd said he “could not offer more because his personal and business income had been reduced by his preparations to retire due to his wife’s and his health issues,” the court said.